Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the men’s giant slalom on Saturday, securing Brazil’s first medal at a Winter Olympics and becoming the first South American athlete to reach the podium in an Olympic winter event. Pinheiro Braathen, born in Norway to a Brazilian mother and Norwegian father, previ ously competed for Norway at the 2022 Beijing Olympics before switching his sporting nationality ahead of the 2024–25 season. Entering the Games with three consecutive World Cup giant slalom runner‑up finishes, he was considered a strong contender and he delivered two solid runs to take the title. Pinheiro Braathen posted a time of 1:13.92 on his first run and 1:11.08 on his second, finishing with a combined total of 2:25.00. Competing as one of 15 Brazilian athletes in Italy, he also served as a flag bearer during the Opening Ceremony. The result marks a significant milestone for Brazil’s Olympic delegation and represents a new chapter in the nation’s participation in winter sports. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less